In March 2014, Universalia was contracted by the World Bank to carry out an independent evaluation of GPOBA. The evaluation is focused on the extent to which GPOBA is a Centre of OBA expertise, and is expected to provide recommendations for the achievement of the program's objectives and vision. The evaluation is led by Gerry Cooney and supported by a number of advisors, including Charles Lusthaus (Universalia) and Rodney Schmidt (North South Institute).
Launched in 2003 by the World Bank and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID), the Global Partnership on Output Based Aid (GPOBA) is a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank Group. The objective of GPOBA is to promote, demonstrate and document the use of Output Based Aid (OBA) in the provision of increased access to reliable basic infrastructure and social services to the poor in developing countries. The GPOBA design envisaged that GPOBA would be a centre of expertise by 2013.